Max Marcham

Max is a qualified counsellor (MBACP, NCPS Accredited), sex and porn addiction counsellor, and psychosexual and relationship therapist. He works with individuals and couples affected by problematic or compulsive sexual behaviours, pornography use, sexual difficulties and the impact these can have on relationships.

Max understands that asking for help with pornography or sexual behaviour can feel particularly difficult. Shame, secrecy and fear of judgement can prevent people from speaking openly about what is happening, sometimes for many years. His style is down-to-earth, friendly and relatable, creating a space where clients can talk honestly about their sexual behaviour, relationships and concerns without feeling judged or defined by them.

Sex and porn addiction counselling

Max has a particular interest in helping people understand not only the behaviour they want to change, but what may be driving it. Therapy can provide an opportunity to explore patterns around pornography or sexual behaviour, recognise triggers, understand the role the behaviour may be playing emotionally, and begin developing healthier ways of responding.

Recovery is not simply about stopping pornography or sexual acting out. Max works with clients to reduce shame, develop greater self-awareness and understand themselves and their choices more fully, helping them build changes that can be sustained beyond the therapy room.

Max is also the author of the young-adult book Porn Bomb, which explores pornography and its potential impact on young people’s expectations, relationships and sexual development. He is one of the facilitators of Cherry Tree’s online Men’s Sex & Porn Addiction Recovery Group, where he supports men who are working towards recovery alongside others facing similar challenges.

Psychosexual and relationship therapy

As a psychosexual and relationship therapist, Max can also work with the wider impact of sex or porn addiction on intimacy, sexual relationships and connection between partners.

Problematic pornography use or compulsive sexual behaviour rarely exists entirely in isolation. It can become intertwined with shame, sexual confidence, difficulties with intimacy, communication and the way a person relates both to themselves and to their partner. Max’s psychosexual training enables these issues to be explored as part of the therapeutic work rather than treating the addictive behaviour as a separate problem.

He also works with couples experiencing relationship and sexual difficulties, including those trying to understand what recovery may mean for their relationship following problematic pornography use or sexual behaviour.

How Max works

Max works primarily from a person-centred approach, integrating elements of Gestalt and psychotherapeutic methods according to the needs of the individual. He also offers EMDR therapy for clients who may need support processing traumatic or more complex experiences.

His approach is relaxed and collaborative. Therapy may involve difficult conversations, but Max also sees it as an opportunity to become curious about yourself: to understand how you arrived where you are, recognise the patterns that may no longer be serving you and begin making choices about how you want to live going forward.

Max offers both face-to-face sessions in Henley-on-Thames and online sessions, making specialist sex and porn addiction counselling available to clients across the UK.

Working with Max

Taking the first step towards talking openly about pornography, sexual behaviour or difficulties within your relationship can feel daunting. You don’t need to have everything worked out before asking for help.

If you would like to explore individual sex or porn addiction counselling, psychosexual therapy or relationship therapy with Max, complete the enquiry form below. Our team will take the time to understand what is happening and help you decide on the most appropriate next step.